Hauxon
Member
Since everyone here is so extremely excited about the new backs I like to spoil the party with boring discussing about marketing/price policy. This just NEEDS to be discussed. To me Phase One is heading in the same direction as Leica. The targeted customer is a wealthy amateur and few hundred pros working for corporate organizations (able to justify extreme expanses). There's no vision of expanding the business to the mass of photographers who might actually benefit from owning such an equipment. I'm partially wrong about Phase One not wanting to expand their user base, they bought Leaf! With the current price structure the only way to get more customers is buying the competition. The upgrade policies are a joke and a result of overpricing. The market for worn novelty items is small to non existent. You buy something for $45.000 and a year or two later you want to buy the new model witch also costs $45.000. The only possible buyers of the old back are other rich guys, and they don't want old stuff. The only way for Phase to continue selling backs is allowing people to trade-in (and accepting a car price depreciation ).
I understand the discussion may not be popular since since many users of this forum users belong to the target group. I belong to the group who sell prints and occasional image for advertising to finance the my gear (+ salary, rent etc. ). I might of course buy some old back some rich guy has no interest in anymore and will probably do someday. What bothers me is why companies like Phase One seem to have no interest in selling their products to me (me being most people ) .
Please do not feel offended, many in here are fine photographers and even some have enough business to pay for such equipment. I just feel something is wrong when the best photographic equipment in the world is marketed as novelty items rather than a tool for talented photographers.
Hrannar Orn Hauksson
I understand the discussion may not be popular since since many users of this forum users belong to the target group. I belong to the group who sell prints and occasional image for advertising to finance the my gear (+ salary, rent etc. ). I might of course buy some old back some rich guy has no interest in anymore and will probably do someday. What bothers me is why companies like Phase One seem to have no interest in selling their products to me (me being most people ) .
Please do not feel offended, many in here are fine photographers and even some have enough business to pay for such equipment. I just feel something is wrong when the best photographic equipment in the world is marketed as novelty items rather than a tool for talented photographers.
Hrannar Orn Hauksson